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I&E SUMMER SCHOLARSRESEARCH PROGRAM

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

OIE: Entrepreneurship at Stevens Is Our Mission

It has never been a more exciting time to be an entrepreneur.

Stevens Institute of Technology, a university founded by a family of inventors, understands the opportunities presented by this bold new world — as well as the collaborations needed to realize them.

That’s why we build entrepreneurial training and teamwork into our undergraduate curriculum from day one. We train our students to think differently, to believe in the possibilities of their ideas, and to actualize those ideas by equipping them with the conceptual, design and business skills and tools that transform novel concepts into real products and services.

Then we connect our students with real-world opportunities and viable business partners, including our own faculty members, who frequently innovate and patent new technologies of their own.

Here are just a few recent examples of Stevens entrepreneurship in action:

• An undergraduate student’s frustration with conventional web browsers eventually led him to create a new browsing technology that enables viewing of hundreds of web pages simultaneously on a single screen.

• An acoustic technology known as SPADES, which scans for and detects threats underwater, began as the seed of an idea from a Stevens faculty team; today it is licensed to the British defense contractor Sonardyne.

• A faculty-student team discovered that the vibrations produced by vehicles driving routinely over bridges can be used to monitor those bridges’ health, and created a compact monitoring device that could potentially warn of structural failures in advance.

• A faculty member’s interest in fraud detection became a novel, patented technology and smartphone app that can detect lies in written text with high reliability.

The Stevens Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIE) coordinates and manages the university’s entrepreneurial activities.

We steward the patenting, commercialization and licensing of faculty-generated research and intellectual property, transforming new ideas and breakthroughs into a multitude of products and services.

We create academic programming in entrepreneurship across the Stevens curriculum, and organize annual entrepreneurship ‘pitch’ competitions and awards programs to help students further hone critical business skills.

We involve hundreds of students in the Stevens Innovation Expo, an annual showcase of team projects conducted by seniors in close partnership with sponsors including Lockheed Martin, Stryker Orthopaedics, Exelis, Pernod Ricard, URS, the Cleveland Clinic, Hackensack University and NYU Langone medical centers. These projects represent the capstone of the Stevens undergraduate experience, conferring invaluable skills in teamwork, project management, marketing and business planning.

And we administer a comprehensive, merit-based OIE Undergraduate Summer Research program to encourage and support faculty-student research in important societal areas.

This book describes the 2014 OIE summer research program. Within its pages, you will read about the inspired research of this year’s class of scholars, an impressive group of 47 undergraduates who tackled topics ranging from virtual cities created for urban planning and artificial heart redesign to new therapeutic devices and new mobile technologies.

TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT:

Sandra Furnbach, P.E.Programs [email protected] David PeacockDirector Intellectual Property [email protected]

Werner Kuhr, Ph.D.Director, Technology [email protected]

Christos Christodoulatos, Ph.D.Vice Provost of Innovation & [email protected]

The Stevens Innovation

Expo is an annual, one-day,

campus-wide event which

displays the extensive

research and innovation

accomplishments of faculty

and students.

83 students applied to the program; 47 were selected

to participate

33 program participants are engineering majors

40% (19) of the 2014 scholars are women

The I&E Summer Scholars Research Program is 100%

funded by endowment and sponsored research funds

13 of Stevens’ 36 undergraduate majors are

represented in the program

2819

$

13

Summer Scholars Stats

Participating Student Average GPA: 3.39

Genevieve Finn, Class of 2017

Major: Business & Technology Advisor: Donald Lombardi, Ph.D. Department: Technology Managment

The Second Stage of the Yellow Ribbon Program: Returning the Favor

Project Summary:As of September of 2013, it is estimated that close to 425,094 veterans reside in New Jersey alone. This number comprises 32,968 women and 392,126 men who made sacrifices and risked their lives to protect the United States and what it stands for. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides these men and women with the opportunity to pursue an education free of the burden and stress of debt. The educational opportunities allow the veterans to provide for their families and achieve success in their new civilian lives. However, there is still more that the Yellow Ribbon Program can give these veterans to return the favor of their great sacrifices.

Genevieve Finn, through her summer research, found that the Yellow Ribbon program can better serve veterans by providing SAT preparation tools, permitting the transfer of the education benefit to veterans’ spouses and improving the organization website. If her proposal is accepted, the program will enable more veterans to be accepted into college, allow spouses to provide for their families if the veteran becomes unable, and facilitate easier access to valuable information on an improved website.

Robert McLeod Jr., Class of 2015

Major: Mechananical Engineering Advisor: Jeffrey Nickerson, Ph.D.. Department: Technology Management

Duck ToolsProject Summary:This past summer, Stevens Summer Scholars Nick Monzillo and Robert McLeod, Jr. investigated academic issues that Stevens undergraduate and graduate communities face almost every day. From personal experiences and a student survey conducted on the topic, they found that students, regardless of major, claimed that writing research papers and completing related assignments were some of the most inconvenient aspects of their academic responsibilities.

Aware of this issue, Monzillo and McLeod used the summer as an opportunity to create a solution. Their research focused on learning, understanding and using the programming language Python and website development program Django. With these implements at hand, they created a website called “Duck Tools” that houses different tools. The website is similar to the Stevens library website, where users can access several resources from independent websites. Duck Tools features sites such as the Public Library of Science, New York Public Library Digital Library, Project Gutenberg and even Reddit. Duck Tools differs from the Stevens library site because it also includes a document summarizer, a tool for citations in MLA and APL formats, and a visualization tool for documents. Once the site launches, Monzillo and McLeod plan on applying for verification to add more resources, such as a dictionary, news from The New York Times and Wikipedia access.

COMMUNITY

Robert Keyser, Class of 2017

Major: Business & Technology Advisor: Donald Lombardi, Ph.D. Department: Technology Management

Optimizing Social Media in Nonprofit OrganizationsProject Summary:As New Jersey’s most progressive nonprofit school for children with both learning and physical disabilities, P.G. Chambers School is at the forefront of special education. The school uses targeted technology to access the unique potential in hundreds of children annually in dedicated classrooms at both the school and its partner public schools. With expenses for the 2011 fiscal year totaling $8,640,557, an efficient marketing and development strategy is crucial to provide the school’s invaluable services.

Working with the school’s director and assistant director of development, Robert Keyser’s project encompasses on-site support contributions in campaign planning, development operations and social media strategies to enable attainment of this year’s fundraising goal of $1,049,869.

Additionally and more specifically, Keyser is developing an evaluation process for social media posts. The analysis assesses the potential for success of the posts and retrospectively examines their performance, including the efficacy of content and features. This comprehensive evaluation process includes a qualitative matrix based on post content and percentage-response measurements, generating an accurate, realistic grade for the posts. With effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of this innovative technology, the social media evaluation program will provide a vanguard system that strengthens new media strategies for the advocacy and support of nonprofit organizations.

Ian Marcellana, Class of 2015

Major: Engineering Management Advisor: Robert Cloutier, Ph.D. Department: School of Systems & Enterprises

Smart City: City, Building and Disaster PlanningProject Summary:As cities such as Hoboken evolve, the interactions between different systems also change. How do growth and change impact the city and its residents? How do residents change the way they use the city in response to growth and change?

“Smart City: City, Building and Disaster Planning” aims to develop a human-use model of Hoboken in labs at the Center for Complex Systems & Enterprises, part of the School of Systems & Enterprises at Stevens.

There are three main pillars of the city to model: the infrastructure, including buildings, sidewalks and streets; the users, including pedestrians and vehicles; and the visual environment. This project requires mapping the landscape, as well as programming how computer-generated agents act around landscape features, including rivers, streets and sidewalks. The team can analyze large groups of people or program individual intelligent agents to perform specific actions. For example, simulated emergency service workers can provide data on efficiently handling a real-life crisis.

Once complete, this Unity 3D simulation can be used to inform emergency planners, event planners and urban designers. The models created through this research will be usable by researchers at Stevens who can collect data from the simulation for further processing via data mining and system analysis techniques. This additional analysis can enhance knowledge of urban systems and normal activity levels, as well as natural disaster planning and mitigation.

COMMUNITY

2 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2014 Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University 3

4 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summer Scholars Research Program 2014

EFFICIENCY & ENERGY

Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University 5

This past summer, a team of Stevens students, alumni and advisors collaborated to enhance the efficiency and quality of several apartment complexes in Fort Worth, Texas. Alumnus Thomas Velky ’56 sponsored the projects, and the team was advised by Leslie Brunell, Ph.D., P.E. from Civil Engineering & Sandra Furnbach, P.E. from the Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The students worked alongside the following alumni of the class of 2013: Jacqueline M. Riddle, Daniel A. Richards, Richard J. Wengenroth and Frank P. Belardo. These students and advisors also had the opportunity to also meet with alumnus John dePillis, Ph.D. ’58.

EFFICIENCY & ENERGY

Christopher Strachan, Class of 2016

Major: Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Leslie Brunell, Ph.D., P.E. Civil Engineering & Sandra Furnbach, Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Department: Mechanical Engineering

Water Meter Data Acquisition

Project Summary:In the past, BillowVista Properties in Fort Worth, Texas, lost more than $4,000 within a six-month span due to undetected water leaks. Christopher Strachan created a data spreadsheet that can monitor and calculate daily water usage by checking the water meters and recording measurements in the spreadsheet. There are three meters on the White Lake property: the Northside, the Southside and White Lake 2. His research also involved calculating the daily water usage per unit and per tenant at White Lake Hills. Utilizing the monthly consumption rates from past water bills, a water usage baseline was used to develop a plan to detect water leaks in order to isolate their locations and quickly make the needed repairs. The data can also compare and contrast the three water meters. Eventually, the spreadsheet will serve as an archive for all recorded daily measurements.

Charles Featherstone, Class of 2015Major: Mechanical Engineering

Cody Curtis, Class of 2016Major: Mechanical Engineering

Advisor: Leslie Brunell, Ph.D., P.E. Civil Engineering & Sandra Furnbach, Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Department: Mechanical Engineering

The “Make-Ready Process” Improvements Project Summary:This past summer, a team of Stevens students, alumni and advisors collaborated to enhance the efficiency and quality of several apartment complexes in Texas. Led by Thomas Vekly ’56, the team focused on optimizing the renovation process of unoccupied apartments. Renovations ranged from aesthetic improvements to enhancing energy efficiency within each unit, which required significant apartment layout reconfigurations. One of the team’s main goals was to create a standardized checklist of all tasks needed to repair and augment the unoccupied units. The team ranked these items, determined the required tools and supplies, and carried out the necessary work to bring the units to a ready-for-market status.

These steps evolved into the make-ready process because the tasks make up the chain of events needed to prepare an apartment for lease quickly and at a competitive level. Additionally, the team focused on several communal aspects within the properties, including the pools, signage and storage areas. As the team learned how to maintain each amenity, they were able to create a more efficient order of operations and a simple way of tracking necessary details (like the chemical levels in the pools). Throughout the summer, the team greatly enhanced the overall efficiency of the apartment complexes operation for the employees and provided an improved living community for current and future tenants.

EFFICIENCY & ENERGY

Patrick Cleary, Class of 2016


Network-Enabled Aquatic Chemistry Analysis NetworkProject Summary:Numerous components of a swimming pool’s water chemistry must be carefully controlled in order for the pool to be considered safe and pass inspection. Some essential considerations when maintaining a pool are keeping it sanitary and free of algal growth. However, conventional testing methods are time-consuming and imprecise. Each water analysis requires the use of non-recoverable testing chemicals and must be performed daily to comply with city codes. Erroneous readings resulting from human error can result in excessive or insufficient chemicals being added. Over time, the costs of wasted chemicals and temporary pool closures due to chemical imbalances can be substantial.

This project aims to develop a Network-Enabled Aquatic Chemistry Analysis Network (NACAN) composed of remotely-accessible, automated water chemical testing and data logging systems. Installing a NACAN sensor platform in the pump house of a swimming pool or water feature streamlines the water maintenance process, saving time and rendering non-recoverable testing supplies obsolete. Each NACAN platform is based on the Raspberry Pi®, a powerful yet inexpensive embedded computer system. Because this microcontroller platform is scalable, each installation can be upgraded to include chemical dispensation capabilities as needed. A suite of sensors monitor water quality with real-time readings displayed on an external LCD screen for quick and precise operator reference. Sensors also record chemical data continuously, highlighting chemical fluctuations over the course of an hour, a day or another time period. Ultimately, this data will foster an understanding of a pool’s chemical state in a way that allows extremely efficient, economical and safe operation.

Lindsay Ziegler, Class of 2016


Pool Chemistry: Algae BloomsProject Summary:Over the summer, the team worked on various independent projects that focused on finding efficient solutions for maintenance tasks at an apartment complex in Texas. Lindsay Zieglar obtained and analyzed the data from multiple projects to implement efficient solutions. The first project was to determine why an algae bloom repeatedly occurred in the pools, then find a solution to maintain stable, swimmable pool conditions.

The second project was to observe how a make-ready process is completed, then create a more effective procedure for a make-ready. Next, Ziegler recorded data from the water meters and used that information to determine an average daily, weekly and monthly water usage for each unit and tenant. Lastly, her market research project obtained information about current real-estate competitors and compared their prices and conditions to the team’s apartment complex offers.

EFFICIENCY & ENERGY


Vincent Raimondi, Class of 2016

Major: Chemical Engineering Advisor: Adeniyi Lawal, Ph.D. Department: Chemical Engineering & Materials Science

Conversion of Microalgae to Usable Diesel

Project Summary:Microalgae have the potential to become a major global renewable fuel source, beneficially utilizing sunlight, CO2 and nutrients to rapidly grow long chain lipids which can be extracted from the algae biomass. Typically, the extracted algae oil contains about 12wt% oxygen, which can be removed via hydrodeoxygenation to produce straight-chain hydrocarbons, mimicking green diesel. The conventional catalyst for hydrotreatment in petroleum refining is the sulfided NiMo catalyst. However, crude oil contains an insignificant amount of oxygen (<0.5%), so its effectiveness for algae oil has not been established. In Vincent Raimondi’s project, precious metal-based catalysts are being evaluated in a microreactor for hydrotreatment of algae oil extracted from Nannochloropsis Salina. A performance study will be conducted to elucidate the effects of various operating conditions, such as temperature, pressure, liquid hourly-space velocity (LHSV), weight hourly-space velocity (WHSV) and H2:Oil ratio on hydrocarbon yield, product selectivity and residual oxygen content.

Richard Thomas, Class of 2016Major: Mechanical Engineering

David Pysher , Class of 2015Major: Mechanical Engineering

Advisor: Leslie Brunell, Ph.D., P.E. Civil Engineering & Sandra Furnbach, Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Department: Mechanical Engineering

Alternative Water Heating SystemProject Summary:The conventional and widely-implemented residential water heating system has inherent issues with regard to efficiency, sustainability and consistent temperature delivery. In residential applications, the largest amount of hot water is used during two four-hour periods in the morning and night, when most residents shower. The problem with conventional water-heating systems is that they have no way of dynamically responding to these dramatic fluctuations in hot water demand. When demand is low, energy is wasted due to transient losses, which results in higher operation costs for the owner. When demand is high, the heater cannot heat water as quickly as it is being used, resulting in residents receiving cold water when they expect to receive hot.

The unique system designed by Tom Velky’s senior design team solves these issues by utilizing an arrangement of storage tanks and flow controllers to dynamically respond to periods of high and low hot water demand. The objective of this project was to implement this theoretical system in practicality and test its effectiveness. Project challenges included determining how the system could be best constructed, positioned, oriented and tied into an existing conventional system within a certain work space. The team also aimed to minimize the anticipated amount of future maintenance, the amount of material used in construction, the heat loss that the system would experience, and the disturbance in hot water supply to residents during the period of implementation.

Katelyn McClung, Class of 2015

Major: Chemical Engineering (Undergraduate), Materials Science (Graduate) Advisor: Ronald Besser, Ph.D. Department: Chemical Engineering & Materials Science

Die Creation and Implementation to Increase Manufacturability in PEM Fuel Cell ElectrodesProject Summary:Green energy sources and technology are growing in popularity as fossil fuels deplete and pollution levels and awareness increase. Fuel cells are an economically compelling alternative for several reasons. Fuel cells are clean and produce only water waste. They are increasingly reliable and efficient, especially when used for combined heat and power production. However, in portable applications, fuel cells are still difficult to implement because of the large size and weight required to obtain the needed power output.

In recent years, research has improved the normalized efficiency of carbon/nafion/platinum electrodes by using etching and patterning to increase the effective surface area for reactions. However, the etching and patterning methods, while effective, are expensive and difficult to manufacture on a large scale.

Katelyn McClung’s research aims to increase the manufacturability and lower initial costs while keeping the added surface area. She plans to create a low-cost die to stamp patterning onto the electrodes, then use another die to apply the platinum mixture onto the electrode easily. Due to the added consistency of the process, she hopes to see higher repeatability, as well. Die creation was done off-site. Electrode stamping and creation is to be performed in laboratories at Stevens. All testing and characterization will also take place in Stevens labs, using a fuel cell test system and potentiostat.


EFFICIENCY & ENERGYEFFICIENCY & ENERGY

Peiran Guan, Class of 2014

Major: Mechananical Engineering Advisor: Chang-Hwan Choi, Ph.D.Department: Mechanical Engineering

Nanofluidic Energy Harvesting Using Streaming Current Through Nanoporous Channels Project Summary:The energy conversion efficiency of traditional energy-harvesting techniques has been very low due to significant energy loss. Also, these techniques lack the ability to provide power to micro- and nano-devices. Nano-devices pose unique problems because of their incredibly small scale. Nanometers are only 1/80,000 the width of a human hair.

This project uses nanoporous materials with a nano-engineered superhydrophobic surface to dramatically increase energy conservation efficiency. This breakthrough mechanism will lead to development of energy-harvesting systems with virtually 100 percent efficiency for the first time. With this technique, core components, such as sensors and actuators, can be powered without adding any extra burden to the system. New battery-free devices can also be supported and deployed with little or no subsequent maintenance. This project will eventually open up areas of research toward a new platform to nanodevices with virtually no energy loss.

Gabriella Romano, Class of 2015

Major: Civil Engineering Advisor: Thomas Herrington, Ph.D. Department: Civil, Environmental & Ocean Engineering

Ambient Conditions’ Effect on LiDARProject Summary:The field evaluation and validation of remote wind sensing technologies through shore-based and buoy-mounted LIDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging) has been underway for just about a year. The Department of Energy is interested in a bankable alternative to harnessing wind energy and developing wind farms. The data collected in this project will either verify offshore as a viable alternative or not. This project compares horizontal scanning LIDAR and vertically profiling LIDAR in their capability to measure 3D wind fields. Currently, the project is in the first phase: fixed scanning LIDAR coastal wind measurement evaluation.

A discrepancy surfaced in the test area. Heat plumes generated from an adjacent building are in range of the radial scan of the scanning LIDAR. The objective of this research is to develop a monitoring plan to quantify the heat’s unexpected impact on the quality of the data collected.

The team performed data analysis of temperature readings inside the chimney where the plume is present, as well as wind speed readings. The temperature graphs show that the plume vents from midnight to noon. However, the daily wind speed readings were scattered and inconclusive. A three-month plot was created, including each data point collected. After some filtering, the coefficient of determination rose showing the minimal affect the heat plume has on the wind speed measurement at speeds over 3 m/s.

The validation of over-ocean wind-sensing technologies’ measured data will provide a more cost-effective alternative to developing wind farms and harnessing wind energy. The data will also identify the temporal and spatial variability of offshore wind resources and determine the reliability and lifetime of wind turbines and their components. This research appeals to renewable energy companies and ultimately benefits societal needs as a clean, affordable and reliable domestic energy source.

Ernesto Solis-Canto, Class of 2015

Major: Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Chang-Hwan Choi, Ph.D.Department: Mechanical Engineering

Superhydrophobic Surfaces Capable of Reducing Drag Forces for Underwater ApplicationsProject Summary:The objective of this project is to successfully prototype super hydrophobic surfaces capable of reducing drag forces for underwater applications. In the first few weeks, the main focus of the research was to become familiar with Professor Choi’s previous experiments. In his findings, the super hydrophobic surface samples, made with pores or pillars on the metal surface of a large rectangular sheet, failed to achieve desirable results when the sample experienced turbulent flows in the Davidson Laboratory tank.

The following weeks focused on replicating the previous super hydrophobic samples with a few variations. Changes were made to the dimensions of the surface textures, and a layer of oil was added. It is speculated that the results will be favorable, but the samples have yet to be tested in the pool because of scheduling issues.

Meanwhile, other efforts have been directed towards researching and mocking up a prototype that will allow visualization of the interaction between oil-filled micropores and water as it flows parallel to the sample’s surface. There are many benefits to being able to study the interactions at the micro level. For example, prediction of how the large-scale tests will most likely result, without the need to actually build a large sample and wait to access the pool. The capability to change the dimensions of the surface textures and adjust the viscosity of the oils used may be altered based on pure observation.

Efforts to perfect the parallel flow prototype will continue. Once the pool is open, tests on the large-scale samples will be done.


EFFICIENCY & ENERGYEFFICIENCY & ENERGY

Diana Magnani, Class of 2016

Major: Chemical Biology, Science, Technology and Society

SURE HOUSE Research

Project Summary:As a member of the shore research team, Diana Magnani focused on learning about the culture of the communities that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy. She traveled to communities of interest, mapped out the architectural patterns of each community and interviewed residents to better assess their needs. The goal of her research was to locate a community on the New York or New Jersey coastline that could serve as a suitable permanent location for SURE HOUSE. Magnani catalogued each of the communities visited and analyzed the collected information to make certain SURE HOUSE is as favorable to coastal communities as possible. The Stevens team aims to ensure that the SURE HOUSE reflects the unique New Jersey coastal culture and atmosphere while being a modern, innovative and resilient solution to flooding.

The Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship sponsored five students’ work on the Solar Decathlon project this past summer. The team was advised by Ed May, visiting assistant professor of mechanical engineering and John Nastasi, industry professor and director of the product-architecture program.Website: surehouse.org

SOLAR DECATHLONSOLAR DECATHLON

Anupama Sapkota, Class of 2017

Major: Chemical Biology, Science, Technology and Society

SURE HOUSE Research

Project Summary:To learn about the history and culture of the New Jersey and New York coastlines, a sub-team within the Stevens Solar Decathlon team visited many locations that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy. Anupama Sapkota’s continuing participation with SURE HOUSE will include gaining an in-depth understanding of FEMA regulations and public policies in these locations, as well as conducting meetings with public officials and professionals who can provide the team with valuable insights useful during the design of SURE HOUSE.


In October 2015, Stevens Institute of Technology will be participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon with the university’s third consecutive entry. The competition challenges collegiate teams worldwide to create a residential housing prototype that is completely solar-powered.

In order to create a project that is not just solar-powered, but also meaningful to the community, the team decided to look at local issues. Focusing

on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the team chose to combat the issue of flooding in coastal communities along the New Jersey Shore. The Stevens team plans to create a house that not only runs on solar power, but also is resilient to future storms like Sandy. The home, SURE HOUSE, will be designed to meet the needs of New Jersey coastal residents while maintaining the design aesthetics of the Shore.

Matteo Sturla, Class of 2015

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: Naoko Tanaka, Ph.D. Department: Center for Healthcare Innovation

Production of Human Therapeutic Proteins

Project Summary:Although Biotin ligase BirA is commercially available, the cost of the reagent is quite high. This project’s goal was to achieve a more efficient method of producing active BirA.

Biotinylation of a target protein with biotin is used daily in drug screening in biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The process by which this project isolates BirA is possibly more efficient and more economical than the current commercial BirA. The purification process uses an affinity tag that was not previously reported for the production of BirA, but was deemed to have a very successful purification and a clean cleavage of the tag. When seen on a large scale, this production method can override the use of the current commercial BirA. If this research provides an economical and chemically superior outcome, customers would opt towards the enzyme produced through this research.

Paul Turrisi-Chung, Class of 2015 Major: Mechanical Engineering

Nicole Kapasakis, Class of 2016Major: Civil Engineering

Christine Hecker, Class of 2015Major: Civil Engineering

Floodproofing and Structural TeamProject Summary:Another sub-group of the Stevens Solar Decathlon team focused on floodproofing and structural design, with the goal of developing a resiliency system for the SURE HOUSE to protect the home from inclement weather, such as hurricanes. The house’s exterior must be designed to be 100 percent floodproof from the ground to at least five feet high. SURE HOUSE must be able withstand all forces including wind, AE7 hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, buoyant and debris with two envelopes that enclose the structure. The house also must be a pre-fab construction so that it can be shipped as cheaply as possible and rebuilt quickly.

Many different structural options were considered. However, SIP (Structurally Insulated Panel) construction was deemed the best option for thermal bridging, shipping and flood considerations. The structural envelope will embrace the house and act as the main support of the structure. The thermal envelope, which is made of SIPs, will be the insulation and thermal barrier for the home. Fellow team member Christine Hecker is continuing to research different kinds of SIPs to decide which will be flood resistant, hold load and be cost effective.

Floodproofing the house up to base flood elevation was an optional team consideration that is not required by competition rules. Many options were considered, including fold-up walls, composite shells and clip connections. However, more research is still being conducted to decide which option the team will utilize in the final design. Design work will continue on this house until January, when the house will be constructed. Currently, Solar Decathlon team member Nicole Kapasakis has been working on the combination of the most prominent of these ideas: a fold-up flood wall with custom-designed SICPs (Structurally Insulated Composite Panels). In addition, the team is developing a clamping design to ensure watertight seals amongst the panel system. This integration will result in a discrete thermal layer within the steel exoskeleton of the house. The advanced structural design will allow future houses to withstand superstorm loads while retaining high thermal efficiency in an easy manner. Moving forward, Paul Turrisi-Chung will be contacting manufacturers to get materials and create a scale model of the floodproofing plan that will be tested in the Davidson Laboratory.

HEALTHCARESOLAR DECATHLON

Christopher Coyle, Class of 2015

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: Vikki Hazelwood, Ph.D. Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

AcceleroMetrix ProjectProject Summary:This summer, Christopher Coyle worked on the AcceleroMetrix project. The project is devoted to developing a medical device called the AcceleroClip, which measures train-of-four (TOF) ratio. TOF ratio is the current medical standard in measuring depth of paralysis, which is the affect a neuromuscular blockade has on a patient in surgery.

Coyle has been working on this project since May 2013. In the first year of work, he constructed a functional standalone prototype which could operate independently from a computer. Coyle also developed a separate program which could be used with the device for the purpose of tracking raw acceleration data that the device is using to calculate the TOF ratio.

There were two goals of the research. The first was to continue the development of the AcceleroClip, specifically incorporating wireless Bluetooth technology. The second goal was to draft and submit a proposal to the Institutional Review Board of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

The sucessful incorporatio of Bluetooth technology into the device required an overhaul of AcceleroClip’s circuitry as well as several significant programming changes. The latest AcceleroClip Bluetooth model has an RN42 Bluetooth module and has no LCD display. The TOF readings can be viewed on a computer screen as the data is wirelessly transferred.

A proposal was drafted by Coyle, AcceleroMetrix faculty advisor Dr. Vikki Hazelwood and AcceleroMetrix physician advisor Dr. Glen Atlas to allow the AcceleroClip to be used in patient testing at University Hospital in Newark. The proposal is currently in the process of being submitted to the Institutional Review Board of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.


Sean Kelty, Class of 2015

Major: Applied Physics Advisor: Arthur Ritter, Ph.D. & Tim J. Sigler Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

Artificial Electromagnetic Muscle

Project Summary:Current prosthetic devices, particularly hands, are larger than true-to-life human limbs and can be cumbersome to handle. This project aims to replace the clunky mechanical motors with electromagnetic tubules that accurately replicate the mechanics of a human muscle. These tubules would be used not only in prosthetics, but also robotic devices to give functionality that would otherwise be lost with the mechanical devices.

Sean Kelty’s research looks at embedding micro- and nano-scale electromagnetic devices in an elastic dielectric polymer. When an electric current is applied and ceased, contraction and expansion are achieved, respectively. The movements resemble biological muscle tissue. Kelty is using his applied physics background and knowledge of electromagnetism and differential equations to create a suitable model that properly describes how the muscle should move with respect to time and applied current. Many attempts have been made to model electromagnetic muscle, but nothing has come to fruition. Sean Kelty is excited to solve this problem and hopefully revolutionize prosthetic devices.

Andrew Isherwood, Class of 2015

Major: Chemical Engineering Advisor: Pinar Akcora, Ph.D. Department: Chemical Engineering & Material Science

Role of Interfacial Layers on Nanoparticles for PEO CrystallizationProject Summary:Silica polymer nano-composites have been extensively researched, as their mechanical properties exhibit unique stiffening behaviors. The system creates unique microstructures because of the attractive and repulsive forces between the particles and polymers. Although much research has been done in the field, practical applications are still lacking.

The system has models and proposed theories of explanation. However, creating a tunable system or adding to the knowledge could lead to the development of a vast array of applications. An injectable gel cushion could potentially treat arthritis, as well as many other joint issues, and could serve as an alternative to replacement surgeries.

Andrew Isherwood’s research focused on a system of silica with the nanoparticle PMMA as the bound layer and PEO as the matrix holding it all together. The effects of ranging the silica concentration on the crystallization of the PEO were analyzed. Samples were prepared in a manner that emphasized the dispersion of the particles, which greatly affects the material’s performance. Sample bond conformation was analyzed using FTIR, providing insight into how the PEO crystallizes onto the surface of the PMMA bound layer. Other properties, including melting point and particle size, were analyzed to create a better picture of what is happening at the nano scale. This research will help in future publications.

HEALTHCARE

Nicolette Pappas, Class of 2016

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: Arthur Ritter, Ph.D. Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

Development of a Self-Contained Total Artificial HeartProject Summary:All over the world, there are thousands of people waiting for hearts on a transplant list. While the number of patients needing a heart transplant continues to rise, the number of donated hearts has stayed the same or decreased. With the gap between the number of available hearts and the number of patients on the transplant list widening, more and more people are looking toward total artificial hearts to save those who have no more time to wait on the transplant list.

There is nothing better for a seriously ill cardiac patient than a human heart transplant, but total artificial hearts can be a temporary solution, giving patients more time to seek a permanent solution. Nicolette Pappas’ research, in collaboration with Hackensack University Medical Center, focused on designing a total artificial heart that is completely self-contained. Other total artificial hearts on the market have extensions that extend out of the patient, increasing the risk of infection. By making the total artificial heart lay completely within the body, it reduces the chance of infection and could possibly be a permanent solution for patients, allowing them to never have to go back on the transplant list.

Soany Heredia, Class of 2016

Major: Chemical Biology Advisor: Ashit K. Ganguly, Ph.D. & Sesha Alluri, Ph.D. Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

Synthesis of a Novel Antibacterial for the Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosaProject Summary:Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects admitted hospital patients. P. aeruginosa is a nosocomial infection, defined as a hospital-acquired infection that was not incubating upon visiting a healthcare facility. Patients suffering from severe lacerations or cystic fibrosis and individuals undergoing chemotherapy or treatment for HIV/AIDs are most receptive, but individuals with compromised immune systems are also susceptible to these potentially life-threatening infections.

Generally, antibiotics serve as primary inhibitors for infections. However, antimicrobial therapy is challenging due to the increasing resistance of microorganisms, like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to antibiotics. The main objective of this research is to synthesize an active and optimal antibacterial for the inhibition of P. aeruginosa.

Presently, Soany Heredia has designed and developed molecular structures of sulfonamide-substituted 2-benzamidobenzoic acid derivatives. The carboxylic acid group, -COOH, ortho to the amide group and the sulfonamide, are essential for binding to PqsD (pseudomonas quinoline signaling) – the enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthesis of signal molecules regulating the formation of virulence factors. Heredia anticipates that optimal binding interaction between PqsD and the proposed target antibacterial will serve as a potent infection inhibitor.

HEALTHCARE


Danielle Gherardi, Class of 2016

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: Hongjun Wang, Ph.D. Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

Nanomaterials Preparation and Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Project Summary:Tissue engineering, to grow new tissues or organs is a rapidly growing area of biomedical engineering. The field has significantly changed treatment options for those suffering from various illnesses and health-related issues such as cardiac diseases, cancer, osteoarthritis, severe burns and many others.

In tissue engineering, three-dimensional scaffolds are typically used, giving researchers the opportunity to seed and culture cells on them and then guide tissue formation by defining an in-vitro environment. Approximately 6.3 million bone fractures occur each year in the U.S., which can result from sports, aging-induced osteoporosis, trauma, cancer and infection, among other causes. To address the high occurrences of bone tissue damage and degeneration, scaffolds become critical in the study of bone growth, cell regulation and development of more successful treatment tactics. Many times, donor tissue is not readily available. Tissue engineering ensures biocompatibility of the tissue grafts as well as a quicker patient recovery time.

This project ‘s ultimate goal is to determine a new method for the growth of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for the development of bone, by using different techniques that could provide faster results. During the course of the experiment, human fetal osteoblast cells were seeded and cultured in an incubator environment that mimics that of the human body. The cells were then seeded into layered biomimetic nanofibrous scaffolds and monitored for their growth daily. Ultimately, hybrid cell/nanofiber constructs will be prepared and further cultured to form mineralized bone-like tissues under various stimulating conditions, such as mechanical loading.

Michelle Castroagudin, Class of 2015

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: Joseph Glavy, Ph.D. Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

Cell Cycle Dependent Changes in HGPS FibroblastsProject Summary:Michelle Castroagudin’s research aims to enrich mitotic Hutchinson Guilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) fibroblast cells through cell synchronization. HGPS is a rare, fatal, premature aging disorder that affects mostly children. This disorder is caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene, which eventually produces the Lamin A protein. By studying HGPS, researchers gain insight into normal aging processes.

In Castroagudin’s study, the cells are synchronized in the pre-metaphase stage of mitosis using the drug nocodazole as a blocking agent. After the drug treatment, the cells are released every twenty minutes to examine the reassembly of the nuclear envelope at each stage of mitosis. The mitotic cells are not as easily embedded on the chamber surface as the interphase cells.

To correct this problem, Castroagudin has been developing different cytospin adapters to fit inside a centrifuge. The adapter designs are initially drawn in the SolidWorks program and then printed in a 3D printer. The two materials that are being tested are acrylonitrile butadiene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) plastic. The project is testing for optimal speed and design. One of these designs could result in a cost-effective and marketable alternative that could be used in every lab.

HEALTHCARE

Martin Burns, Class of 2015

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: Ramana Vinjamuri, Ph.D. Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

Design of High Degree of Freedom Human Hand ExoskeletonProject Summary:Individuals who have experienced spinal cord injury, stroke, brain injury and other neurological disorders are susceptible to losing most or all of their hand function. Currently, there are limited options to assist in activities of daily living for patients who fail to regain any hand function through physical therapy. This project aims to meet this need by developing an actuated hand exoskeleton that is compact, lightweight and capable of replicating complex motions in real time.

The goal for the 2014 Innovation & Entrepreneurship term was to produce an index finger with two independently controlled joints. This model was then scaled up to include an actuated thumb, which enabled basic pinch-and-grasp motions. The model currently serves as a research platform for grasp control using EMG systems. 3D-printing technology was leveraged to fabricate the exoskeleton’s components while an Arduino/LabVIEW interface was used to control the system. Further work on this project will consist of incorporating a third powered Degree of Freedom (DoF) and a sensor feedback system into the basic finger design. From there, this model can be scaled up to create a self-contained hand exoskeleton capable of three different bending motions per finger, totaling fifteen independent DoF for the entire hand. When coupled with state-of-the-art grasp control schemes, this robotic exoskeleton could assist patients in their day-to-day lives, allowing them to lead more independent lifestyles.

Kristen Goncalves, Class of 2017

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: Vikki Hazelwood, Ph.D. Department: Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering

TheraGloveProject Summary:According to the CDC, in 2010 more than 3.7 million U.S. patients visited the emergency room for a hand injury. Approximately 60 percent of these patients did not regain normal hand function due to residual scar tissue and permanent disability brought on by uncontrolled swelling. TheraGlove uses a multi-compartmentalized pressure- and temperature-controlled device to direct the swelling from the hand to the lymphatic drain in the armpit, where it can be removed. The TheraGlove summer team aimed to improve the patient’s quality of life by continuing the work of the senior design team to work toward a patent and commercial development of a hand-specific rehabilitation device. The team’s focus was modifying the current gel pack and air bladder design so that the device could effectively reduce swelling. Kristen Goncalves was responsible for determining a new packaging material for the gel that would enable the gel to flow between the fingers. Additionally, Goncalves was responsible for designing new air bladders and locating a company that could reproduce these air bladders. By changing the design, the TheraGlove team hopes that the device can be clinically tested and eventually brought to market.

HEALTHCARE


Lauren Shultz, Class of 2017

Major: Biomedical Engineering Advisor: E.H. Yang, Ph.D. Department: Mechanical Engineering

Analysis of Surface Properties of PPy(DBS)

Project Summary:The research of Stevens scholar Lauren Schultz focused on an organic smart polymer, polypyrrole doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonate (PPy(DBS)), and its properties in different chemical states. The aqueous PPy(DBS) is deposited onto a gold-coated silicon chip using a system of electrodes and a potentiostat, which supplies a set amount of voltage to the electrodes to carry a current through the solution. The PPy(DBS) surface deposited on the gold-coated silicon chip has a nanoscale thickness and can be chemically altered using the same system of electrodes and potentiostat in an electrolyte solution. In different chemical states, the PPy(DBS) has different surface properties. The properties Schultz examined include surface roughness, structure and wettability. Wettability is the extent to which a surface absorbs water. The surface structure and roughness are measured using an atomic force microscope (AFM) that uses a nanoscale probe to produce an image of the surface structure and calculate the roughness of the surface. The wettability of the surface is measured using a goniometer, a machine that measures the angle at which a water droplet comes into contact with a surface. The wettability is calculated based on this contact angle. High contact angles indicate a hydrophobic surface, while low contact angles indicate a hydrophilic surface. The goal of this research project is to develop a fundamental study of this organic smart polymer for potential use as an antimicrobial surface for implants and other medical devices.

Connor Sellar, Class of 2016

Major: Physics Advisor: Rainer Martini, Ph.D.Department: Physics

Monitoring of Bacterial Growth via Thermal Emissions Project Summary:Bacterial growth tests are performed every day at a multitude of healthcare facilities. Hospitals use bacterial cultures to test for diseases, while biological laboratories use bacteria in genetic tests to treat, and possibly cure, everything from cancer to the common cold. But the challenge confronting hospitals, bio-labs and clinics is the length of time to achieve any type of result. Due to the slow growth of bacteria, testing can last as much as two days. In hospitals, the time it takes to complete these tests can mean the difference between life and death for some patients. This past summer, Connor Sellar was part of a research team that sought to detect bacterial growth by the amount of heat given off by these organisms to allow for faster and more quantitative analysis. Using this detection method, they hope to reduce the testing time from 1-2 days to 1-2 hours.

HEALTHCARE HEALTHCARE


NEW TECHNOLOGY

Zachary Klein, Class of 2017

Major: Electrical Engineering and Music & Technlogy Advisor: Bruce McNair, Ph.D. Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering

Universal Automation and Recall System for Analog Recording Consoles

Project Summary:In the music recording industry, the use of analog consoles has been the predominant choice for professional studios and engineers since the 1940s. These consoles are still used due to their superior audio qualities compared with digital media. However, these newer digital processes are both easier and quicker to use. Where an analog console must be set up for every session and faders must be manually moved, digital workstations allow for these processes to be automated.

The goal of this system is to create a package that would do this automation on an analog console. To accomplish a system like this, several features must be replaced or modified. Motorized faders and potentiometers for panning, auxiliary send/returns, equalization and other features would need to be inserted, replacing the console’s original parts. This requires incorporating a new electrical system into the console while maintaining the quality of audio being produced. In addition to the hardware system, it is necessary to develop a software package to store all of the actions. The software must be capable of sending that stored information back to the console accurately during the recall of settings. In addition, the software should allow the user to select the proper specification for his or her console, such as fader length, number of auxiliary sends and number of equalizer pots. In addition to saving settings, the user will be able to store the saved program files and transfer them to another computer or external hard drive.

Sarah Quiles, Class of 2015Major: Visual Arts & Technology

John Simms III, Class of 2015Major: Visual Arts & Technology

Emily Rautenberg, Class of 2015Majors: Computer Science and Visual Arts & Technology

Advisor: Robert HarariDepartment: College of Arts & Letters

Bell Labs Motion Tracking Interactive Software & AnalyticsProject Summary:This three-person research team partnered with Bell Labs in order to create an interactive installation utilizing Bell Labs’ recently developed motion capture software. Their software is unique in that, unlike technologies such as the Microsoft Kinect, it can analyze motion in large groups of people instead of just one individual. By putting an installation like this in busy public places, people get to enjoy it while Bell Labs also gets to collect data about the movement and social interactions of large groups of people. This makes the software ideal for locations with a lot of traffic, such as shopping malls or plazas in major transit stations.

To demonstrate its capabilities to the average onlooker, the Stevens research team was tasked with creating a game with an engaging interface to utilize the motion capture software. The team proposed a 3D environment in which caterpillars populate the space, undergo metamorphosis into butterflies, then fly around the 3D environment. Using a webcam, an audience’s motion is tracked and algorithmically interpreted inside the program. If motion is detected where a butterfly lands around the grass field, the butterfly will take off and fly away from the motion. The length of time the life cycle of a butterfly lasts, as well as the number of caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies present, is dependent on the amount of people involved in creating motion in the space.

John Simms III’s main contribution to the project was creating the 3D background, as well the caterpillar and cocoon animation. Using these animations, the art team worked in conjunction with the coding team to incorporate the animation seamlessly into the code. Due to its ability to handle highly-trafficked spaces, this technology is a great tool for commercialization. The art animation can customize to fit any business’s style, which then can be used to promote the company or business in busy areas and attract more attention than a static poster.

Sarah Quiles was part of the group that worked on the modeling and animation aspects of the game. She created most of the butterflies and cocoons, as well as the animations that accompanied them.

As a Computer Science and Visual Arts & Technology double degree student, Emily Rautenberg had the unique opportunity to utilize both skillsets on the project. As a Computer Science major, she has taken many programming courses and was able to contribute to the functionality of the game by writing and editing sample code originally provided by Bell Labs. All programming was performed in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 using C++. The team was tasked with completely changing the file reading system of the program and determining the best way to load all of the art assets, as well as determining the criteria for changing the given assets. As a Visual Arts and Technology major, Rautenberg was able to also contribute to the creation of these assets. Using Autodesk Maya, she assisted the art side of the team by 3D modeling and texturing her own butterfly, as well as creating a standard butterfly skeleton to bind and rig all butterflies used in the program. This rig allowed for the butterfly to be animated and rendered into the movements seen in the program. Working on this program provided Rautenberg with an opportunity to combine what she learned while pursuing double degrees.

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Kevin Barresi, Class of 2015

Major: Computer Engineering Advisor: Mukund Iyengar Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering

Iubble Web Browser Project Summary:This project is the continuation of a project from last year. It focused on the development of a method for visualizing large sets of data in an intuitive way. This technology embodied itself in a new web browser named Iubble, which deviates from the standard Chrome or Firefox browser by making it simple to look at hundreds of webpages simultaneously. To accomplish this, a blank screen is filled with bubbles, each being a graphical representation of a webpage. The bubbles are placed in a manner that shows connections between websites. The user can scroll, zoom and drag bubbles. When clicked, bubbles expand to show the webpages they represent.

As a result of the effort, the product is available on three major platforms with mobile versions in development. The project has grown into a corporation with six employees and nearly $40,000 in seed funding.


Amanda Kowalski, Class of 2016

Major: Computer Science Advisor: Ionut Florescu, Ph.D. Department: Hanlon Financial Systems Lab

Interactive Robotic Platforms

Project Summary:The goal of this project is to make progress towards creating a robot with advanced interactive capabilities. This project plans on developing a camera that will act as an eye for the robot and use what the robot sees to improve the robot’s navigational capabilities The robot will have the ability to interact with a remote owner who will be able to see and control what the robot does from afar.

This robotic research is important because robotics is a field of study that is expanding rapidly and continues to show advances in technology. Amanda Kowalski’s research works towards getting the robot mobile by writing code to get all the motors moving at the designated times. The computer program will then be expanded and become more advanced to work in tandem with the camera as well as the user.

David Chmielewski, Class of 2016

Major: Electrical Engineering Advisor: Yu-Dong Yao, Ph.D. Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering

Cognitive Radio Test Bed DevelopmentProject Summary:This summer, David Chmielewski continued his research on cognitive radio test beds. Cognitive radio is software-defined radio that has the ability to make wireless communications more efficient because it can vary broadcast and reception parameters. Working with GNU Radio software and USRP modules, this research team was tasked with different problems such as radio scene analyses and radio attacks.

Chmielewski’s research focused on developing interference avoidance for cognitive radios. He used Python to write algorithms, then utilized USRP modules and lab equipment, including signal generators and spectrum analyzers, to test and develop the code. This research can be useful in the future. As the number of wireless devices for consumers, businesses and government increases each year, cognitive radio technology and interference avoidance has the potential to play a huge role in commercial and military applications.

Qing Zhao, Class of 2015

Major: Electrical Engineering Advisor: Philippos Mordohai, Ph.D. Department: Computer Science

Communication Network for a Robot TeamProject Summary:The project aims to build a robot team consisting of a Parrot AR.Drone and potentially multiple iRobot TurtleBots. The AR.Drone is equipped with four color LEDs on the bottom of the frame. These LEDs can be captured by the cameras mounted on the TurtleBot for the purpose of estimating the drone’s position. When the TurtleBots move, it will also lead the AR.Drone to cruise above it by publishing the control signals through a Wi-Fi connection.

In order to realize more accurate control of the robot team, Qing Zhao’s research involves setting up a local area network based on the ROS protocol for data exchange within the whole team. Besides this particular research project, his work will also benefit other robot projects requiring communication between master and clients. With the establishment of the communication network, the master computer is able to collect all robots’ status and send commands to the team wirelessly instead of transferring data through solid wires. The debugging efficiency will be increased and the robots’ activity range will be extended, as well.

Fred Florio, Class of 2015

Major: Physics Advisor: Christopher Search, Ph.D. Department: Physics, Engineering Physics

Nonlinear Effects in Silicon Integrated Optical ResonatorsProject Summary:There is widespread research interest in silicon integrated optical resonators because of the many advantages that silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology offers in comparison to other materials. Among the advantages is a small minimum bending radius of about 5μm, which permits high-density integration. In everyday life, this would mean smaller, faster and more powerful computers. There is also a growing interest in the development of micro-optical integrated gyroscopes that utilize the Sagnac effect, a rotation-induced optical phase shift, for rotation-sensing abilities on par with their much larger siblings, the ring laser gyroscope (RLG) and fiber optic gyroscope (FOG). These large tools are widely used for inertial navigation and avionics. Such micro-optical gyroscopes would have sizes similar to MEMS gyroscopes on a micron scale, but with superior sensitivities due to the relative ease of measuring small optical phase shifts.

In order to realize the superior sensitivities mentioned, Christopher Search is researching the large third order nonlinear interactions of SOI, which makes nonlinear effects such as four-wave mixing and self-phase modulation readily observable. It has been predicted that a material with a nonlinear Kerr index of refraction could be used to magnify the difference in intensities between the counter-propagating modes in a rotating ring laser cavity. This is due to the non-reciprocal phase shift of the modes caused by the difference between self-phase and cross-phase modulation. Silicon micro-resonators, due to their large Kerr index of refraction and small mode volumes, are ideal candidates to harness this effect for enhanced rotation sensitivity.

ROBOTICSNEW TECHNOLOGY


Daniele Melo Santos Paulino, Class of 2015

Major: Civil Engineering Advisor: Marcus P. Rutner, Ph.D. Department: Civil, Environmental & Ocean Engineering

Mitigation Measures of Shockwave in Nonlinear Material

Project Summary:Daniele Melo Santos Paulino’s research focuses on peridynamics and nonlinear behavior of materials to analyze the mitigation of shock waves in structural components subjected to impact and blast loading. The effect of instability of microstructure undergoing high-speed dynamical deformation is not well understood. The objective of this research is to computationally investigate material with cubic, spherical or hexagonal air-filled inclusions. One important part of this research is to monitor the instability of cell structure during the densification of the air-filled inclusions and elaborate the governing parameters of the material densification.

To simulate the process, Paulino is working with LAMMPS, a classical molecular dynamics code that can model atomic, metallic, granular and other different systems using a variety of force fields and boundary conditions.

The team created a block of atoms simulating the structure and added a certain number of air-filled inclusions into the middle part to investigate the collapse of the inclusions and potential mitigation effects through the instability process and densification of the inclusions, which absorb energy. The team developed numerous computational models, varying the geometry, number and size of holes. The displacement and acceleration time histories are measured at the center points of the front and back faces of the specimen. Additional quantities measured are force and energy time histories.

The data produced in an analysis are visualized in displacement/force and energy time histories and in contour plots. The computational approach helps to gain a better understanding of the inherent instability of microstructure, the densification of inclusions and potential mitigation effects of shock waves. The computational findings will be validated through experimental tests in the near future.

Nathaniel Goldfarb, Class of 2017

Major: Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Mishah Salman, Ph.D.Department: Mechanical Engineering

Closed-Loop Control of a 3D Printed Robotic Hand Using Vision ProcessingProject Summary:The goal of this project was to create a closed-loop control of a 3D prosthetic hand using vision processing. The result of this project is a closed system that is capable of finding the location of an object and moving a hand to that location. The hand is also capable of interacting with the object. Each finger on the hand is a kinematic chain, allowing for precise control over the location of the finger. This control allows the hand to open and close in the exact way needed to interact with the object. To enhance the control over the hand, a wrist was attached to the hand, allowing the hand to rotate if necessary. To move the hand in the environment, the hand rig was attached to an XYZ table. This allows for accurate and repeatable movement. This project can be used in researching humanoid robotic systems that can find and manipulate objects. It can also be used as a teaching platform for image recognition and kinematic relations.


SECURITYROBOTICS

Adriano Tawin, Class of 2015

Major: Civil Engineering Advisor: Marcus P. Rutner, Ph.D. Department: Civil, Environmental & Ocean Engineering

Fast Analysis Design Software for Blast Resistant DesignProject Summary:The recent rise of terror attacks has created a demand for blast protection of civilians as well as military and government buildings. The design of structures to withstand various magnitudes of blast loadings is relatively new to the engineering community. Currently, blast analysis on a structure is done through finite element analysis or experimental testing – both expensive and time-consuming processes. As such, Adriano Tawin’s research intends to provide an alternative blast analysis process that would provide a time-efficient, on-site vulnerability assessment of structural components.

A recent research by project advisor Dr. Rutner found that the non-linear response of structural components subjected to blast loading could be represented by a single response surface. This would allow interpolation to accurately assess blast response of any structure component of the same failure mode. The main objective of this research is to develop a user-friendly, fast-running design tool using MATLAB’s graphical user interface (GUI) to enable fast vulnerability assessment of structural components subjected to blast loading. Instead of implementing finite element method for vulnerability assessment of a structure, the GUI will use an alternative and less time-consuming form of computation: the Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) method. After a user feeds the governing parameters (e.g. boundary conditions, column geometry, section types and blast information) into the GUI, the GUI will calculate the equivalent SDOF mass, stiffness and loading. These three variables will be utilized to compute the resulting SDOF data points for the 3D diagram consisting of the mass, impulse and displacement. With this GUI, users can now immediately and accurately identify the impulse and deformation experienced by a structure subjected to a particular blast loading. As the GUI would enable on-site assessment of vulnerabilities and support time-efficient resilient design of structures, this software would be of great value to industries dealing with blast loading.

Cassandra Nicholas, Class of 2016

Major: Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Yi Guo, Ph.D. Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering

Human Indoor Mobility Pattern for Robot-Assisted ActivitiesProject Summary:Human mobility patterns are used to study and predict the movements and location of people within an area. The goal of this project was to study human mobility patterns in everyday life and in emergency situations to create a robotic system that can help in either one or both of those aspects of life. Focusing on emergency situations two main problems were found in current mobility patterns: evacuation procedures are static and people move at different speeds throughout the building. The current evacuation plans in most buildings are static and do not change from situation to situation. It was also found that people will become slower once they reach a stairwell or exit causing problems for others to exit. The best solution to the problem is to have a robot that can dynamically update to the present situation at hand and be able to regulate the speed at which people walk so that everyone moves at about the same speed throughout the building, even in stairwells. Using MATLAB, an evacuation simulator created by previous students is used to test the differences between an evacuation with a robot guiding people to exits and an evacuation without a robot in Jonas Hall, a dormitory on campus. If the results are successfully in favor of the robot, work can begin on the creation of the robotic system. Hopefully, in the near future a robotic evacuation system can be used in all buildings on the Stevens campus, providing an even safer learning and living environment for all.

Stevens Institute of Technology: The Innovation University 27

SECURITY

Rafael Gouveia Sr., Class of 2016

Major: Computer Science Advisor: Philippos Mordohai, Ph.D. Department: Computer Science

Stereo Vision for Driver Assistance and Autonomous NavigationProject Summary:This past summer, Rafael Gouveia Sr. worked on disparity maps, a 3D reconstruction technique with stereo images. Stereoscopic computer vision is the extraction of 3D information from digital images. The process enables a computer to match correspondences from one image to another to determine the locations of real-world objects relative to the camera’s position.

The goal of the research team was to improve this technique for use in driver assistance and autonomous navigation. The team tested the disparity maps with the KITTI dataset, information from real case scenarios. Gouveia used a superpixel technique overlayed on top of disparity maps to aggregate similar pixels into one big superpixel. Similar pixels are supposed to have similar disparities. This technique acts as the first step in improving the maps by helping to correct some of the noise from the initial disparity map.

In comparing the pixels with their superpixel and the superpixels with other superpixels, it is possible to give a good confidence measure of the correctness of the disparity. With this information, the team can create more precise disparity maps, making it is possible for a driverless car to see obstacles around it,improving safety for passengers and pedestrians.


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